Carbon control for writing machines



- May 25, 1943. 1 w. H.A`HOPE, .l 2,320,038

CARBON CONTROL WRITING MACHINES May25, 1943. I w.- H. HOPE, JR2,320,038A

' C ARBON vcon'111o1. 1o11 WRITING MACHINES;

F1ed 'June 11, 1940 "-2 sheets-sheet 24 y I zorney.

Patented May 25, 1943 CARBON coNTaor. lgis Warrino William H. Hope, Jr.,Hiewston, N. Y., assigner to Gilman Fanfold Corporation, Niagara Falls,N. Y., a corporation or Delaware Application .rune n, 1ero, serial No.339,374

(ci. 19t-126) This invention relates to improvements in carbon ortransfer sheet control for writing machines such as typewriters, andmore particularly to an improved carbon or transfer sheet carrieradapted to support the transfer sheets in transfer relation with longcontinuous assemblies of record strips and to provide for shifting thetransfer sheets along the record assembly towithout alteration of thestructure thereof, and

that can be quickly and easily placed in operative position incontinuous assemblies` of record strips without requiring the exerciseof special skill.

A further object is to provide an improved transfer sheet control formachines of the class mentioned and embodying a novel transfer stripcarrier supported in floating position by the record strips,l andadapted tobe automatically positioned as the strips are pulled forwardlyso that the strips move freelyand without obstruction past the carbonsheets to bring fresh portions or sheet sets of the record strips intotransfer relation.

Stillr another object ofthe invention is to provide an improved transfersheet carrier of the type adapted to ride or be supported upon thecontinuous record strips, and having an improved positioning cam mountedthereon for positioning the carrier in operative position to provide forfree passage of the record strips with reference to the carbon sheets.

Another object is to provide for carbon carriers oftlie class mentioned,an improved arrangement for supporting and mounting carbon sheetsupporting blades having free ends so as to be the invention', and willbe in part obvious as the description proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements,

and arrangement of parts, whichwill be exemvplied in the constructionhereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will beindicated in the claims.

For a. more complete disclosure of the nature, objects and advantages ofthe invention, reference is had to the following description of the i1-lustrative embodiment of the invention, and to the accompanying drawingsin which:

Fig.I 1 is a partially diagrammatic side elevation'of a typewritingmachine of knownlconstruction and equipped with 'the improved carboncontrolling means;

' Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the'carbon controlmeans in a different position; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary partiallydiagrammatical plan showing the carbon carrier in operative positionwith reference to a record assembly, parts being broken away toshow thestructure and arrangement more clearly;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the carbon carrier showing its positionwith reference to a continuous recordstrip assembly of the fanfold type;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the carbon sheet carrier; A

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the transfer stripcarrier, parts being shown in elevation;

adapted particularly for use 'in connection with continuous strips ofthe fanfold type, wherein the long continuous strips are connected bylongitudinal integral folds extending along the opposite longitudinalassembly margins.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the carbon sheet carriertaken at'the plane of the supporting pins for the carbon sheetsupporting blades;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the carbon sheet carrier with thesupporting blades removed, and,

Fig. 9 is adetail perspective view of one of the carbon sheet supportingblades.l

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the embodimentthere shown, the

-improved carbon sheet control embodying the carbon sheet carrierindicated generally at I0 is A further object is to provide an improvedsupapplied to a typewriting machine Il of conventional construction,having supporting feet or pads l2 of rubber or other resilient material,and a key board of type operating keys I3 connectedv to operate the typebars in the usual known manner. A cylindrical rotary platen I4 'ismounted on the machine upon a supporting carriage mounted for movementtransversely of the machine in a known manner for effecting letterspacing. Releaseable pressure rollers mounted in the usual manner topress the record l5 arestrips or strip assembly against the cylindricalwriting surface of the platen I4.

As best shown in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive, the carbon sheet carrier orunitI embodies a base or supporting plate I6 preferably of sheet metal andhaving attached at opposite ends thereof, terminal blocks I1 which maybe of any appropriate material of sufficient strength, such, forexample, as aluminum or other metal, compressed in. Fig. 1, and may havethreaded attaching exthe longitudinal folds 3l.

tensions `extending through apertures in the ends of the base plate andthreaded int-o apertures in the terminal blocks I1, thus holding theparts firmly in assembled relation. As shown, there are preferably twoof the supporting pins at each end of the ba-se plate in alignment withthe longitudinal path or course' of the record strips.

A spring retaining clip 2| is positioned adjacent' to each pair ofsupporting pins 20 and attached in position to the correspondingterminal block I1 for the purpose of engaging and retaining the c arbonsheet supporting blades in operative position.

There may be as many carbon sheet supporting blades 22 as desired forIsupporting the required number of carbon sheets. One of these blades isshown in detail in Fig. 9. Each blade includes a thin metallic bar, asshown, thin enough to have considerable flexibility, and has a-rightangularly disposed terminal supporting part 23 preferably reinforced byan overlying metallic plate 24 attached in position by the sleevebushings 25 providing bearings for receiving the supporting pins 2U. Asshown, a bed plate 26, held in position by the pins 20, is preferablyprovided at each end of the supporting unit, upon which the attachingterminals 23 of the blades 22 rest.

The bearing sleeves 25 are of sufficient thickness to space thesupporting blades 22 slightly from each other and from the bed plate 26.

One of the carbon sheets 21, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, is attached toeach supporting blade 22 by means of metallic U-clips 28. 'I'heattaching end of each carbon sheet 21 is free of transfer materialthroughout the zone of attachment, and it is transversely creased andfolded at the crease line to form a loop extending-over the supportingblade with .the crease line coincident with 'the forward edge of theblade. The U-clips are pressed in position over the loop yand blade, andfit with sufiicient closeness to bind the carbon sheet in supportedposition upon the blade. While three blades 22 are shown, any desirednumber may be used for supporting the required number of carbon sheets.The supporting blades -have free ends opposite to the mounting terminals23 for use in connection with fanfoldedA record strip assemblies. Thecarbon sheets 21 may, if desired, be longer than a single sheet or formlength, so that the forward ends thereof may be severed after the sheetshave become partially depleted so as to bring fresh transfer areas intoinscription position. As shown in Fig, 3 the 75 leading ends of thecarbon sheets may be marginally notched as at 21a to provide a selectivegrip formation whereby the record strips can be gripped to the exclusionof the carbons when the' record strips are being pulled forwardly intonew positions relatively to the carbons.

Although the improved carbon control may be utilized with assemblies ofseparate long continuous traveler record strips, it is especially'adapted for the fanfolded type of record assembly 29, as shown, inwhich the supe'rposed record strips 33 are connected to each other alonglongitudinal fold lines 3|. 'I'he carbon sheet supporting blades 22 arethus positioned between adjacent record strips with their free endsadjacent to Each of the record strips 30 is preferably providedwithtransverse weakened or perforated severance lines 32, dividing thestrips into sets of relatively superposed record sheets; these may beprovided with suitable blank forms for receiving the inscriptions. Thefanfolded vrecord strip assembly is folded along transverse lines thatmay coincide with the severance lines 32 to form a convenient zigzagfolded supply pack 33.

The back stop or supporting bracket for the carbon control mechanismincludes a bracket plate 3l preferably of thin sheet metal, and -havinga supporting lflange 35 adapted to rest upon the table top or support,and upon which the rear supporting pads I 2 of the typewriter rest Ainorder to hold the bracket plate in position. It can thus be quickly andeasily installed with typewriters of the general class shown. In orderto additionally support and steady the bracket plate 'in position, theplate is bent intermediate its upper and lower extremities to form asupporting angle or rib 36 .that rests against the rear wall of thetypewriter and also functions to stien and rigidify the bracket plate. l

A transversely extending strip guide bar 31 is attached to the upperextremity of the bracket plate 34, being of wood or compressed fiberboard. or similar material, and being rounded and smooth upon its uppersurface to form a guide for the strip assembly 29, and being ofsufllcient length to extend beyond the opposite edges of the stripassembly. The strip guide bar 31 also functions as a stop forcooperating with the car-A bon sheet carrier I0. I

A strip guide 36 in the form of an upwardly convexed metallic plate isalso attached to the carbon sheet carrier, extending rearwardlytherefrom and functioning as Ia guide .to ease the strip assembly to andthrough the carrier unit when the latter ls in the position shown inFig. 2. In this position the strip assembly is raised from the guide bar31 and the guide 36 then comes into action to guide the strips and toprevent obstruction thereof, especially when the fold lines approach thecarrier unit.

lWhen it is desired to interleave the vcarbon sheets of the carrier I0in transfer position between the record strips of the fanfold assembly29, the carrier may be placed upon the table in the position shown.inFig. 3, and the strip assembly placed in position, over the carrier, asshown, with the back sides of the record strips upwardly. The lowermostsupporting blade y22 with its carbon sheet clipped thereon andcarbonized surface upwardly, is placed between the two lower strips andmounted upon the corresponding supporting pins 20. Similarly, anothersupporting blade 22` is mounted on the pins 2l at the opposite yend ofthe base plate I6, land positioned between the second and third recordstrips from the bottom. As many carbon sheets as required are placed inthis manner in transfer position between the record strips.

When the carbon sheets are thus threaded in transfer relation with therecord strips, the complete assembly is ledforwardly over the guide 3iand the writing platen I into writing position, as shown in Fig. 1.During the Writing on .the forms the carbon carrier lll remains in thependant position beneath the guide bar 31 as shown. When the carbonsheets are in interleaved transfer relation with the record strips asdescribed they are frictionally engaged `by therecord strips so as to becaused to move as a unit therewithwhen the platen is rotated foreffecting line spacing or for feeding the record assembly for otherpurposes. Thus the complete assembly including the record strips andcarbon sheets may be adjusted or fed as a unit either forwardly orrearwardly.in the writing machine. As writing proceeds, the line spacingmoves Vthe complete assembly forwardly, including the carbon sheetcarrier Il).4 Since the carbon carrier unit depends from the guide andsupport 3l, as shown in Fig. l, a rearward tension'will b e exerted uponthe assembly of record strips and carbon sheets tending to pull itrearwardly. Any slack in the assembly occasioned by back feeding or byother causes will thus be instantly taken up by gravity. As shown, therewill ordinarily be sufficient amplitude of the pendent position of thecarrier l to take up any back feeding movement of the assembly forsubstantially the `distance of the length of the sets of record sheets,thus assisting in making corrections and erasures. Upon completion ofthe writing on a set of forms, the pressure rolls l5' are released andthe assembly of record4 strips and carbony sheets is pulled from itswriting position on the platen to entirely free it therefrom, as shownin Fig. 2. The .complete assembly, together with the carbonA sheetcarrier I, is then pulled forwardly until the c am arms i@ engage theguide bar 3l, whereupon the carrier unit l0 is tilted forwardly to theposition shown in Fig. 2. The direction of pully on the strips Will besubstantially along the straightened assembly above the typewriter andto the left, as shown in Fig. 2. This movement is caused by theengagement of the cams I3 with the guide bar 31, thus moving the carrierunit into the position shown in Fig. 2. so that the record stripassembly can be.. pulled forwardly and pass freely through the carrierunit without any obstruction. When the carrier unit is in this position,the forward end ofthe record strip assembly 29 is grasped beyond theforward ends of the carbons 21 atI the notches 21a. The record stripsare then pulled forwardly through the carbon sheet carrier and past thecarbon sheets Ato bring a new set of record forms into transfer relation`with the carbon sheets. During this vrelative movement of the recordstrip assembly, the hooked formation or lugs I9 of the carrier unit I0remain in engagement with the guide ybar 3T to hold the unit againstadvancement. During this movement of the record strips, the guide plate38 engages the record strip assembly to guide the latter to thesupporting carrier unit. When an assembly fold line approaches thecarrier unit any sharp bending of the assembly at the fold line thatmight obstruct its feeding movement is avoided by action of the guideplate 38. When the record strip assembly 29 has thus been movedforwardly to bring the inscribed record leaves thereof beyond theforward ends of the carbon sheets, these inscribed sheets may then bequickly and easily severed from the assembly along the weakenedseverance lines 32. The inscribed sheets can, of course, be severedbefore replacing the assembly again in writing position upon the platenI4, or the severance may be effected after the assembly has beenreplaced. When the as- .sembly is again replaced inl writing positionupon the platen, the writing operation continues upon the nextsuccessive set of form sheets, the carbon sheet carrier i@ againassuming the pendant position beneath the guide bar 3l, as shown shownin the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrativeand'not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a carbonsheet carrier having a carbon sheet support positioned to support acarbon sheet attached thereto in transfer relation with an assemblyincluding continuous record strips in inscription position in theapparatus, said carrier being in the form of a separate oatingsupporting unit, wholly supported in operative position by said assemblyand carbon sheet, a stop bar, and a cam device on said supporting unitcooperating with said stop bar to exert camming action on saidsupporting unit to move it to position so as to provide for the freepassag'eof the record strips relative to said unit, and with referenceto the carbon sheet.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a carbonsheet carrier having a carbon sheet support positioned to support acarbon sheet attached thereto in transfer relation with an assemblyincluding said carbon sheet and continuous record strips, said carrierbeing in the form of a separate floating supporting unit, supported inoperative position by said assembly, means controlled by forwardmovement of said assembly for positioning said supf porting unit andretaining it in position so as to provide for the free passage of therecord strips relatively thereto, and with reference to the carbonsheet, and a strip guide carried by said supporting unit for guiding therecord strips thereto.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combi-nation, a carbonsheet carrier having a carbon sheet support positioned to support one ormore carbon sheets attached thereto in transfer relation with anassembly of continuous record strips, said carrier being in the form ofa separate floating supporting unit, wholly supported in operativeposition by said record strips and carbon sheet or sheets, a stop bar, acam device on said supporting unit cooperating with said stop bar toexert camming action on said supporting unit to move it to position soas to provide for the free passage of the record strips relative t0 saidunit, and with reference to the .carbon carbon sheet carrier having acarbon sheet sup port positioned to support a carbon sheet attachedthereto in transfer relation with a record assembly including saidcarbon sheet and continuous record strips, said carrier being in theform of a separate floating supporting unit normally spaced rearwardlyof the machine platen and gravitationally supported in pendant operativeposition by said record assembly, a supporting bracket including a platehaving a base flange disposed to be held in position by a Writingmachine and bent to form a supporting rib for supporting engagement withthe machine, and a strip guide bar supported in elevated position abovethe level of said platen by said supporting bracket and over which thestrips pass into writing position and below which said supporting unitgravitationally depends.

5. In a writing machine, in combination, a writing platen. a carbonsheet carrier having a carbon sheet support positioned to support anattached carbon sheet in transfer relation with a record assemblyincluding continuous record strip's, said carrier being in the form of aseparate floating supporting unit positioned wholly to the rearward ofsaid platen and supported in pendant operative position by said recordassembly and carbon sheet, a supporting bracket including a plate havinga base flange disposed to be held in position by a writing machine andhaving a supporting rib for supporting engagement with the machine, astrip guide bar supported in elevated position by said supportingbracket and over which the strips pass into writing position and belowwhich said supporting unit depends, and a cam device between saidsupporting unit and said guide bar cooperating when said supporting unitis moved forwardly to position and retain said unit so as to provide forthe free passage of the record strips relatively thereto.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a carbonsheet carrier having carbon sheet supporting means positioned to supportone or more carbon sheets in transfer relation with a record assemblyincluding continuous record strips, said carrier being in the form of aseparate floating supporting unit, gravitationally supported in pendantoperative position by said record assembly and carbon sheet or sheets soas to effect rearward movement of the latter, a strip guide and stopbar, a plurality of forwardly projecting cam bars on said supportingunit cooperating with said guide and stop bar to exert lcamming actionon said unit to position it for Cil free passage of the record stripsrelatively thereto, and a stop lug on said supporting unit cooperatingwith said stop bar to retain the unit in position during passage of therecord strips.

7. A strip riding carbon sheet carrier including a base plate forsupporting carbon sheets, and having cam arms carried thereby andprojecting forwardly therefrom.

8` l strip riding carbon sheet carrier including a base plate forsupporting carbon sheets, and having camarms carried thereby andprojecting forwardly therefrom, and stop lugs respectively positionedadjacent to said ca m arms.

9. A strip riding carbon sheet carrier including a base plate havingsupporting means for supporting carbon sheets, and having cam armsprojecting forwardly therefrom, and a strip guide on saidbase plate atthe 'opposite side thereof from v said cam arms.

10. In a writing machine, in combination, a writing platen, a carbonsheet carrier having a carbon sheet support positioned to support anattached carbon sheet in transfer relation with a record assemblyincluding said carbon sheet and `continuous record strips in inscriptionposition on said platen, said carrier being in the form of a separatefloating supporting unit, and a strip guide positioned rearwardly ofsaid platen over which the assembly passes to the platen, saidsupporting unit being positioned rearwardly of said strip guide andlower than the latter so as to be supported by said assembly and toexert rearward pull thereon and to effect rearward movement thereof bygravity.

l1. In an apparatus of the character described,

in combination, a. carbon sheet carrier having a.

carbon sheet support positioned to support a carbon sheet attachedthereto in transfer relation with continuous record strips with whichsaid carbon sheet is assembled to form a record assembly in inscriptionposition in thev apparatus,

